Figure 3.

Effects of the ER-antagonist (ICI) on the E₂-induced increase of the MCF-7 cell membrane roughness, in the absence and presence of AuNP. (A) Graphic shows significant differences in the roughness values at 12 hrs of incubation with different treatments compared with the control group (ethanol-treated cells). Results were obtained sequentially in three different areas of the cell and on three different cells, in triplicate. Different letters (a-d) show statistical differences between groups in the RMS[Rq] value; *P≤0.05 vs control. (B) Representative high-resolution AFM images show changes in the surface roughness of the MCF-7 cell membrane under different treatments. The image size: 5×5 µm, with Z=0 a 250 nm. (0.25 µm).

Abbreviations: AFM, atomic force microscopy; AuNP, gold nanoparticle; E₂, 17β-estradiol; ICI, 7α,17β-[9-[(4,4,5,5,5-Pentafluoropentyl)sulfinyl]nonyl]estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17-diol; RMS[Rq], roughness values; Vh, vehicle.